Welcome wherever you are, whether tucked under the duvet, getting home after a night on the tiles inadvisedly early in the week or logging on from a far-flung corner of the world. The frost lies thick on suburban windscreens as London sleeps. The kebab shops are sweeping up and the black cabs are scurrying across town like shiny beetles.

Meanwhile on a hot summer's day in Napier, England have started jaw-droppingly well, making 340 for six. That's their third-best one-day score of all time and their best against serious opposition since making 363 for seven against Pakistan in 1992, when 'Rhythm is a Dancer' by the German dance outfit Snap! Was No 1 and John Major's government was stumbling towards Black Wednesday.

New Zealand have been stumbling towards their own Black Wednesday in Napier. However they will take heart from short square boundaries, a lovely batting pitch and the fact that they have made 324, 285 and 335 in their last three innings on this ground. But they will need more than that today. Whichever way, it should be entertaining, with Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum a pair of death-or-glory openers. Join me soon for the action.

1st over New Zealand 6-0 (Ryder 5, McCullum1) New Zealand need 6.82 runs an over and start well. Jesse Ryder balloons the first ball off his hip towards square leg. He plays the same shot more convincingly to hit Anderson's third ball for four. Too short. Fourth ball is a replay of the firstand it falls just short of square leg. And again! The fifth ball plops into the air, landing exactly where orthodox square leg would have been. But there isn't one. Mike Atherton thinks conditions are perfect for batting. Still, only two sides have ever successfully chased 341 or more. But one of them was New Zealand a year ago, when they hunted down 350 against Australia.

2nd over New Zealand 9-0 (Ryder 7, McCullum 2) A smashing start from Ryan Sidebottom, curly hair bouncing in his run-up. Only three prodded runs come, as Sidebottom finds a touch of swing and hits the spot straight away. Will he finally find some luck today, the poor fellow?

3rd over New Zealand 14-0 (Ryder 10, McCullum 3) Anderson tends to be either brilliant or bloody expensive for England and he veered worryingly towards the latter in the first over. But here he's much better. McCullum is batting miles out of his crease, looking to attack. But Anderson is bowling a waspish fast-medium and has him cutting at fresh air twice as the bowler finds lively bounce. This opening stand is crucial. New Zealand perhaps lack a lick of class in the middle order so a good start is vital.

4th over New Zealand 20-0 (Ryder 11, McCullum 7) Terrible luck for poor old Sidebottom - yet again. McCullum is lucky as he inside-edges the last ball and it cannons over the top of middle stump and flies away for four. Beforehand, the flat-footed Ryder struggled as Sidebottom nips it away from the left-hander. Great stuff from Sidebottom but NZ are up with the rate.

5th over New Zealand 36-0 (Ryder 18, McCullum 16) An breatless over. Anderson's legside half volley is toed by McCullum but Mustard is inches short of scooping it up in his glove as he dives away to his left. A chance but a very tough one. Next ball McCullum makes no mistake and upper cuts over point for six. Trying an action replay next ball, he is cramped for room and hit agonisingly on the hand. McCullum screams "Owww!" as he scampers a single and receives lengthy treatment. Finally he is ready to continue, and Ryder absolutely munches a cover drive for four. Sixteen from the over. Awful.

6th over New Zealand 40-0 (Ryder 19, McCullum 19) McCullum is struggling badly, screwing up his eyes in pain. Losing him would be a bad blow for New Zealand, as he's perhaps their punchiest batsman. It's like watching two different games here. Sidebottom is again extremely tight, swinging it just enough while homing in beautifully on the top of off stump. At the other end Anderson has been diappearing at nine an over.

"What's the highest number of sixes in an innings without hitting a four? Is Colly a record breaker?" asks Neil Harrison. Short of McCullum needing another 15 minutes' treatment I can't tell you Ian. Anyone else?

7th over New Zealand 56-0 (Ryder 35, McCullum 19) What class from Ryder! He launches Anderson many, many rows back straight over his head, a blow to his masculinity as well as his figures. Next ball he leans into a cover drive that skims the turf for four. Less classically, but just as effectively, he then wallops Anderson's last ball back over his head for another six. Sixteen from the over. A thrilling start from New Zealand. Can Collingwood keep Anderson in the attack any longer? Ryder's drive there was reminiscent of David Gower in his ethereal pomp. Only the blond curls were missing.

8th over New Zealand 58-0 (Ryder 36, McCullum 20) Sidebottom has barely bowled a bad ball and goes for just two singles. But NZ are still cruising at seven an over, boosted by Anderson's woes. Meanwhile Marc Denholm has a quiz question. "Also in 1992 Bill Clinton was elected president, Mike Tyson went on trial for rape, Oasis signed with Creation Records and Gary Lineker retired from international football. The question I pose to you is what amazingly links all of these things?"

9th over New Zealand 61-0 (Ryder 38, McCullum 21) Anderson is off to skulk in the outfield and Stuart Broad is on. He's a good competitor Broad, like his dad Chris who infamously swiped down the stumps after a bad decision in a Test. The 21-year-old year old starts well here, bowling in a tight channel outside off stump. This is a vital period for England. If they can stem the runs and take a wicket they are firmly back in control. But 10 more overs of this pair and they are in big bother.

"Thanks for getting Snap's 'Rhythm is a Dancer' stuck in my head," says Gareth Parkinson in Japan. "By way of revenge I would like to make reference to Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex."

WICKET! Ryder c Anderson b Broad 39 New Zealand 70-0 Anderson takes a catch as brilliant as his bowling has been bobbins. Ryder whacks one so high it comes down with ice on it. Three blue shirts converge and it looks like it could be a pile up. But Anderson running round from long on takes it. That was very very hard and he made it look easy, grabbbing it and slidibng on his knees. It was also smart bowling from Broad - a slower ball wrecked Ryder's usually superb timing. A massive wicket for England as McCullum is subdued with his sore hand and the new batsman How has to score fast.

12th over New Zealand 73-1 (McCullum 31, How 1) New Zealand need 268 from 38 overs and it suddenly looks much further off now that Ryder has gone. McCullum is having to force the pace against Sidebottom, which is a dangerous game. He gets so far across to the fifth ball that it actually bounces over leg stump. Then Sidebottom beats him outside off stump last ball. Understated but terrific.

Meanwhile Chris Taylor offers the first attempt at our quiz question - "Answer: They all happened in 1992." Very droll Chris.

13th over New Zealand 81-1 (McCullum 31, How 3) Broad sends down a searing bouncer third ball but then gets carried away. Another bouncer is so high it is called wide and beats Mustard's upstretched glove to run away for four. Next ball is dragged down - another wide this time outside off stump. Eight from the over. Jamie How has two from 11 balls and mustt be feeling tense.

14th over New Zealand 87-1 (McCullum 34, How 6) Anderson back in place of Sidebottom. A smart move from Collingwood. Anderson has to bowl sometime, NZ are quiet since Ryder went and an early comeback means Anderson doesn't have too long to sit and agonise over his very leaky first spell. How mows the third ball away through midwicket for four. Not a bad ball, that, just a good shot. A much better effort from Anderson.

15th over New Zealand 97-1 (McCullum 38, How 12) Two extra-cover drives, one from How, and a meatier one from McCullum make sure NZ keep up with the rate they need. This is looking very finely balanced again. That's drinks. NZ need 244 in 35 overs.

Our quizmaster Marc Denholm is back, with an embarrassing admission. "I'm sorry but nothing actually links those events in 1992, I just wasn't convinced that merely listing them was enough to get me on OBO." Apologies to anyone out there scratching their head. Marc you've let down your country and your family but most of all yourself.

16th over New Zealand 108-1 (McCullum 47, How 13) "I have a plan to fix Anderson's bowling. I'm going to fly to New Zealand, kidnap him, drug him, then tatto 'full' and 'straight' onto the back of each of his hands. Perhaps we could have a whip round for the airfare," writes Ben. Just when that is looking a shade harsh, Jimmy sends down two leg-side full tosses, both punished by McCullum.

Anderson is involved in a niggly little contest with McCullum here. Riled, he hits 91mph in this over as McCullum bats well out of his crease to disrupt the bowler's rhythm. Anderson seems keen to try to hit his foe but knows the short ball is also likely to disappear for four. Intriguing. NZ still need a shade under seven an over.

17th over New Zealand 116-1 (McCullum 48, How 19) With a midwicket boundary, three singles and a wide (another Broad bouncer way over the batsman's head) New Zealand score eight from the over. Billy Idol's 'White Wedding' booms over the ground, the reason for which currently escapes me.

18th over New Zealand 119-1 (McCullum 49, How 21) A vital passage of play starts as Collingwood brings himself on, the first of England's second-line bowlers. Colly pretty well has to bowl 10-overs worth of his dobbers as England are short of main bowlers. If NZ destroy him - possible on this good pitch - there is noweher to hide. He starts very tidily, with just three squeaked from the over.

"Quizmaster Marc Denholm shouldn't feel so sheepish", says Chris Talyor. "The four events are actually linked, in so far as they utterly dreadful in their current capacities. Clinton as a husband, Tyson as a boxer, Oasis as band (since 1996) and Lineker as a pundit or crisp salesman." Perhaps a tad harsh on our Gary, Chris. He's pretty slick these days. 19th over New Zealand 127-1 (McCullum 51, How 27) NZ's over once again, as Broad is milked with ominous ease for eight. McCullum reaches 50 in 49 balls, his 11th in ODIs. No hundreds so far and, as NZ's punchiest batsman, you feel he has to go close today if his side are going to get close to scaling a huge total. when NZ chased 350 against Australia last year, McCullum made 81. His sore hand seems to have settled down.

20th over New Zealand 127-1 (McCullum 52, How 27) Collingwood is proving a strong link not a weak one, leaking just a single. Well done Colly. Suddenly the pressure shifts back onto New Zealand, as the rquired rate creeps above seven an over.

21st over New Zealand 133-1 (McCullum 55, How 29) Mascarenhas is on, so it's smart but unspectacular dobbers at each end. There is something piratical about Mascarenhas, with his pair of exotic looking golden loop earrings swinging as he jogs to the crease. But nothing piratical about his unfussy full, straight over.

22nd over New Zealand 137-1 (McCullum 57, How 30) Like a dog returning to its own vomit, the disgraced Marc Denholm is back. "Paul, I'd just like to say I feel deeply humbled by the whole quiz experience. As soon as I had sent off my question I felt a pang of guilt. It was the same as the feeling that one experiences when eating the last chocolate from your girlfriend's birthday present, or immediately after sexual relations with a pet."

More wholseomely, Colly (no Marc, not that sort of Colly) sends down another tight over as England continue their squeeze.

23rd over New Zealand 146-1 (McCullum 58, How 39) How wallops Mascerenhas over long off for a one-bounce four, as NZ realise they need to start to hit their way out of a torpor. That's How's first boundary not smeared through midwicket. His side now need at least one of those every over or so.

24th over New Zealand 159-1 (McCullum 58, How 52) Collingwood is walking a precarious tightrope here. The pitch is a belter; two inches off target spells disaster. How proves just that here, mowing a leg-side ball way into the square leg stand and then repeating the shot to a ball that's a fraction short. How has almost caught up with the opener McCullum.

WICKET! st Mustard b Shah 58 New Zealand 161-2 (How 52) Well I never! Collingwood surprises your correspondent - and probably the bowler himself - by bringing on Owais Shah to try his very very occasional offbreaks (eight previous overs in 34 ODIs). He drags McCullum forward, McCullum in turn drags his back foot a touch over the crease and Mustrad does the rest in a jiffy. McCullum walks before the third-unmpire decides, oddly because he actually had his foot in the crease, only just in the air. A tight decision and a quirky but crucial breakthrough for England.

26th over New Zealand 164-2 (How 55, Taylor 1) Sensing a potentially decisive breakthrough, Collingwood brings back his best bowler, Sidebottom. Shah has made the breach; his captian now wants the rest of his bowlers to pile through the chink and rout New Zealand. It doesn't work immediately. Sidebottom is tight not destructive. Seeing Shah's success, England's usual part-time offie KP is now turning his arm over hopefully in the outfield.

27th over New Zealand 170-2 (How 57, Taylor 5) Shah has bowled really nicely so far - 2-0-10-1. England were 158 for two at this point, so New Zealand are still well on course.

"I'm still horrified that Bobby Gould's image is up there," says Ian Forth. "Is he explaining to Colly how to manage a national team (Welsh supporters consistently voted him worst all-time manager)? How to break a losing streak (20 odd games for Coventry)? How to win supporters over (West Brom fans once mocked up a coffin with his name on it and took it into the ground during his managerial reign)? Let him go drinking with Beefy - keep them both away from England captains." Sorry Ian, my know-how doesn't extend to swapping pictures, so Bobby stays.

28th over New Zealand 177-2 (How 62, Taylor 7) The supporters on the grassy bank are slowly cooking in the sun (except those who have already painted themselves orange - what larks! what larks!). And the match too is slowly coming to the boil - the delicate balance summed up by the last two balls of Sidebottom's over. First How smears him for yet another leg-side four; next Sidebottom lures him oustide off stump and just misses the edge.

30th over New Zealand 196-2 (How 62, Taylor 24) Oh dear. Horrible for england. After Shah slips in another tight over, too quickly for your correspondent to quite keep up, Stuart Broad returns in place of Sidebottom, blond highlights gliniting in the late-afternoon sun. He starts and ends with bloopers - short, wide, four; full, wide, four. In-between Taylor picks up a good ball over midwicket for six. The boundary is short, the pitch good and Paul Collingwood has already hit England's fastest ever one-day fifty. This could be trouble for England as New Zealand are more than 20 ahead of where their opponents were at this stage.

31st over New Zealand 205-2 (How 70, Taylor 25) The match could hinge on this moment. How drives at a wide one from Shah, the ball balloons off the outside edge, and falls within an inch of Sidebottom's outstretched fingers as he dives at gully. He lives, and can continue to provide the motor for New Zealand's increasingly assured-looking chase. Shah holds his head in his hands.

The emails have temporarily dried up. Anyone still awake out there? Come back Marc Denholm, all is forgiven.

32nd over New Zealand 215-2 (How 78, Taylor 27) How and Taylor reach their 50 stand, in 43 balls, almost exactly the pace NZ need to win comfortably. Ominously for England, they have done it without taking big risks. Collingwood looks red-faced and a touch careworn as he tugs on his cap after going for 10 in the over.

33rd over New Zealand 221-2 (How 80, Taylor 30) Shah goes for just six, looking comfortable but unthreatening in the sun.

As if on cue, Marc is back. "Talking of drinking with Beefy, I was at the Twenty20 match in Christchurch and Botham walked into the corporate box that I had somehow found my way into. He was three sheets to the wind by the end of the game and in high spirits decided it would be a good idea to continue his boozefest with ex All-Black Justin Marshall. Justin's wife looked none too impressed as the 'legend' Beefy roared in their faces that they were required to join him in a taxi. He left alone! Good on yer Beef." Yes, the Sky crew take it in turns to dine with Beefy - no one can keep up for more than one night in a row. Sort of tag-team drinking.

34th over New Zealand 225-2 (How 82, Taylor 32) Collingwood has a big call to make soon. Jimmy Andesron, whose radar has been wonky and who has gone for 10 an over, is going to have to come back sometime - unless his captain can fiddle 24 overs between himself, Mascerenhas and Shah. That doesn't look such a problem as Colly himself concedes just four here.

b>36th over New Zealand 239-2 (How 92, Taylor 36) Another Shah quick 'un (seven runs, one jack-in-the-box appeal for lbw, caught behind, whatever you like) is followed by Collingwood's dobbers again. NZ need 7.29 an over and manage seven here with the ease they might take a stroll by the seafront.

Chris Herrington is sharing Colly's pain. "Finally I get to follow a game from ball one (with obligatory comments from Naylor) and England are about to become the wrong end of another statistic - New Zealand's greatest run chase & victory! Bugger!"

37th over New Zealand 249-2 (How 94, Taylor 43) Mustard's volume behind the stumps seems to be in direct relation to the direness of England's plight. So his chatter noisy ("Come on Ace!") is bad news. Another 10 leaked. Real problems for England here.

WICKET! Talyor c Mustard b Anderson 48 New Zealand 255-3 (How 95, Styris 1) Talyor throws the kitchen sink and the garden shed at one outside off stump and nicks it. Collingwood's gamble in bringing back Anderson pays off. Or does it? The wicket brings in Scott Styris and this ground is just too small for such a gigantic hitter. Styris has just destroyed an NZ state side; five good overs from him and this will be over.

39th over New Zealand 262-3 (How 97, Styris 6) Broad returns and is dragged out of the merde by his fielders. Collingwood leaps to his left to cut off four at point. Bell follows his lead next ball at cover, but can't do anything about the next one, which flies off Styris's bat like a tracer bullet. The sun is blazing and so are NZ bats.

Meanwhile Alan Hempton asks a good question: "Why is Luke Wright in the side? He's batting at number eight, and seemingly isn't trusted to bowl, despite England's frontline bowlers being smashed around the ground. Surely if Wright isn't considered good enough to bowl then he should be replaced in the side by someone who is? As it is Anderson and Broad are both going to have to bowl 10 overs each despite being bobbins.

40th over New Zealand 269-3 (How 103, Styris 7) Hundred for How! His first in ODIs. Well played sir. He guides Anderson down through third man and dashes back for a second. He beams in the sunshine, sweat glistening on his brow. He has mixed judicious blocking with leg-side mows and has been the engine of the innings. Seventy-two now needed from 10 overs. You'd back NZ to do it nine times out of 10. The series seems to be slowly slipping from England's grasp.

41st over New Zealand 280-3 (How 113, Styris 8) Collingwood looks utterly powerless as How sends another six rattling itno the stands at square leg. On the box Nasser Hussain has had to fall back to the old 'it's a funny game, anything can swing it' line. Hmmm. Funny game indeed. But perhaps not THAT funny.

42nd over New Zealand 287-3 (How 115, Styris 13) The odds on England saving the series lengthen as inexorably as the Napier shadows. Stuart Broad bowls five good uns and one bad un which is slapped through point for four by the hulking Styris. Seven from the over, the required rate now doen to near six. Even KP looks flat. The dead fell to this match is testament to just how well New Zealand have batted. Really outstanding.

43rd over New Zealand 296-3 (How 117, Styris 20) Ben reckons he's spotted England's problem, as Colly is again milked for nine. "The key to bowling part-timers is short spells and variation. they should be rotated in three or four over bursts. Shah is case in point: he bowled four overs for 23 and should have stopped there. Collingwood should have used Wright or KP for an over or two." I have to disagree Ben. The problem has been more that there are too many part-timers. England have lacked someone with the firepower to shift a well-set batsman on a terrific pitch. Someone a bit out of the ordinary.

WICKET! Styris c Anderson b Sidebottom 20 New Zealand 296-4 (How 122, Fulton 0) Styris hits one flattish but straight to Anderson at long on. He takes it fingers upward in front of his chest. 38 from 36 balls needed at the end of the over, six wickets in hand, Fulton out of form but How flying at the other end. Bumble reckons england can do it. I disagree I'm afraid. WICKET! Fulton run out 0 45th over New Zealand 307-5 (How 127, Oram 0) Terrific team work pays off. A brilliant leap by Anderson at point off the second ball keeps the scratchy-looking Fulton on strike. The stumps at the bowler's end perform the same function next ball. And then the pressure pays off. Fulton tries to scramble anervy run, Pietersen dives, stops and throws in one movement from mid one. Brilliant work and Fulton is an inch short. Still, they might have liked to keep him in ahead of the powerful Jacob Oram. Still, he nearly goes form the last ball but one - Mustard fumbling a tricky stumping chance from a leg-side wide. Thirty-three needed in 30 balls.

"Couldn't agree more with Alan Hempton," writes Ben re: England's tactics. "This has revealed the obvious danger of playing just three bowlers: if one has a bad day you're buggered. If two do... well, you can fail to defend 340."

WICKET! Oram c Pietersen b Broad 6 Oram toe-ends a drive hard, but straight to Pietersen at cover. He punches the ground several times. I think he might be pleased.

46th over New Zealand 316-6 (How 127, Vettori 0) Oh my! Broad is back to bowl his last over, after going for 68 in his first nine. The odds are stacked against him on this pitch and with these short boundaries. Oram punches down the ground for two, then just leans into a drive that thuds hard into the cover hoardings. But then a wicket, from nowhere. England are striking regularly but the run-rate required is still comfortable. England are hinting at a Lazaris like recovery here. They really did look buried a few overs ago. One more wicket and they are into the bowlers.

47th over New Zealand 318-6 (How 129, Vettori 2) Anderson comes back and bowls a corker. Reverse swing, several stabs and misses from Vettori and just two runs. NZ need 23 in 18 balls.

48th over New Zealand 324-6 (How 133, Vettori 4) Terrific over from Sidebottom keeps NZ under huge pressure. How gives up the strike by taking a single off an open bat to cover off the first ball. A brilliant yorker keeps Vettori stuck at the striker's end. A hefty drive down the ground gives him a single. Fourth ball: Oh! How misses out on a gift-wrapped leg-side full toss, dragging it to deep midwicket and getting just another single. Another full straight reverse-swinging ball from Sidebottom is whacked down the ground - another single off the fifth ball. A low full toss from the last dlivery produces a desperate scramble from Vettori to get back in for two. The third umpire gives it not out, and the bat is well over the crease. 17 from 12 needed.

49th over New Zealand 334-6 (How 135, Vettori 12) NZ are peeking from behind their fingers in the pitch-side dug out. How's clubbed four from the first ball makes them slightly less nervy. Anderson ends with a reverse swinging yorker that is dug out for a single, leaving NZ needing seven from the last over. Anderson has gone for 86 in 10 overs: if NZ win his poor start will have been the difference between the sides.

50th over New Zealand 340-7 (Vettori 14, Mills 0)New Zealand tie with England A tie! A fabulous tie! England are all but finished with two needed form two balls. But then poor Jimmy Anderson, so wayward as a bowler, proves deadly accurate as a fielder and changes the game in a flash of brilliance. The fifth ball is hit hard by How straight to mid off. Anderson picks up and throws in one liquid movement and rattles the stumps. Two needed from the last ball of the game as the sun sets. Vettori, studentlike with his glasses and his stubly beard, gets it off a mixture of inside edge and pad into the off side. They scramble a single, which produces the second tie in a row between these sides on this ground. Well done Luke Wright! The first time he had the ball in his hand was to bowl the last over. And he went for just six.

Well, that's it from me. England have avoided failing to defend the third-highest total they have ever made - just. Their task is now to win the last match and tie the series two games all. My task is to get home in a dodgy minicab and get some sleep. It's been a pleausre having you all - even Marc - and I'm sorry not to have used more of your emails at the end. It all got a little breathless. Thanks and have a terrific day wherever you are.